Brake



P. RUFFINO Feb. 15, 1938.

BRAKE Original Filed March 22, 1935 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 A 2,108,235

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Peter Rufdno, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original application March 22, 1935, Serial No. 12,345. Divided and this application January 13, 1937, Serial No. 120,327

2 Claims. (Cl. 188-78) This application is a divisional application of and inwardly inclined wedge surfaces 50 so that my pen pl n r l N 2,345, filed the adjacent surfaces 50 of the respective shoes March 22, 1935, and the invention relates to im- 45 coact to provide V-shaped spaces for the reprovements in brakes, and more particularly to ception of V-shaped wedges 5| which are in- 5 brake mechanisms for automobiles. tegral with an elliptical shaped frame member One of the main objects of the invention re- 52. The wedges 5| are disposed in vertical allnesides in a brake mechan sm embodying a pai ment with respect to each other and with reof slidable diametrically opposed brake shoes spect to the axis of the opening 42, whereby adapted to be expanded by wedge means into downward movement of the frame member 52 1 braking contact with the brake drum of a wheel, will cause the converging sides of the wedges the wedge means being of such construction as to wedgingly engage the downwardly and inwardto effect a positive diametrical expansion of the ly inclined wedge surfaces 5|! of the brake shoes. brake shoes to cause an even pressure through- This downward movement effects a uniform exout the length thereof to obtain maximum brakpansion of the brake shoes 43 whereas springs 53 ing efliciency and an even wear upon the brake which have their ends respectively connected to 15 lining. the webs of the brake shoes 43 act to return A further feature of the invention is the prothe brake shoes to normally retracted position. vision of a simple and inexpensive construction Whereas the frame member 52 may be moved of brakes wherein the parts are readily accesdownwardly by a cam such as shown in my prior sible for repair or replacement purposes. application Serial No. 12,345, I have illustrated 20 With these and other objects in view, the inhydraulic means for actuating the wedge means. vention resides in the certain novel construction. Secured to the anchor plate 4| directly above combination and arrangement of parts, the esthe upper wedge 5|, is a cylinder 54 in which a sential features of which are hereinafter fully depiston 55 is slidably mounted, the piston 55 being scribed in the specification, are particularly formed with a stem 56 extending below the lower pointed out in the appended claims, and are ilend of the cylinder and terminating in a head 51 I lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which flatly engages the flat top of the upper which: wedge 5|. Fluid pressure supply pipes 53 enter Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the cylinder 54 adjacent the top thereof whereby 3 the brake drum in section. pressure admitted therethrough to the cylinder Figure 2 is a top plan view with a fragmentary causes the piston 55 to be moved outwardly and position of the brake drum in section. accordingly exerting a pressure upon the top of Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line the frame 52 and setting up a wedge action be- 3-3 of Figure 1. tween the wedge 5| and the adjacent wedge sur- Figure 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view on faces 50 of the brake shoes. 35 the line 4--4 of Figure 1; and Each brake shoe 43 is provided with a brake Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the liner unit which includes a metal arcuate shaped line 5-5 of Figure 1. strip 32, the ends of which are turned inwardly Referring to the drawing by reference charto provide hook portions 33.- The intermediate acters, the numeral 40 designates a brake drum, portion of the strip 32 is formed with an inwardly 0 and 4| the anchor plate closing the open side of extending ear 34 having an opening 35 therein the drum, the anchor plate being provided with for apurpose to be presently explained. Fixedly a central axle opening 42. Diametrically opposed secured to the outside of the arcuate shaped brake shoes 43 are disposed on opposite sides of member 32 is a layer of lining material 36, the 45 the opening 42 and each includes an arcuate same being fastened in position by rivets or like 45 shaped flange 44, a substantially C-shaped web fastening elements 31. The ends of the lining 45, the web being provided with horizontally dismaterial 36 terminate adjacent the hook ends 33 posed elongated slots 46 for receiving guide posts of the member 32. 41 extending inwardly from the anchor plate 4|. The lining unit is inserted laterally upon each Washers 48 fit over the free end of the posts of the brake shoes 43, the hook ends 33 engaging 41 and cotter pins 49 pass through the posts for the ends of the arcuate flange 44 of the shoe, preventing lateral movement of the brake shoe while the opening 35 in the ear 34 registers with during use. v a threaded opening 38 provided in the flange 45 The top and bottom ends of the webs 45 of while a threaded bolt 39 threads into the threadthe brake shoes are provided with downwardly ed opening 38 and se ures the brake lining unit disposed in parallel relation and are respectively arranged on opposite sidesv of the opening 42. The posts 59 are received in elongated slots 60 provided in opposite sides of the elliptical shaped frame 52, whereas cotter pins 8i pass transversely through the posts 58 for retaining the frame,

member 52 in position.

By reason of the construction and arrangement of the parts herein shown and described, it will be appreciated that the mechanism may be readily assembled and that the parts are accessible for repair or replacement purposes. In fact, the brakes may be relined by the use of the brake lining units without the aid of a skilled mechanic.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. In a brake, a drum, an anchor plate, a pair of opposed brake shoes slidably mounted on said anchor plate for movement toward and away from each other, a yoke member slidably mounted on said anchor plate within said drum for movement at right angle to the sliding movement of said shoes, a pair of diametrically alined V-shaped wedges fixedly carried by said yoke member, inclined wedge surfaces provided on the opposed adjacent ends of. said shoes with which the inclined surfaces of said V-shaped wedges respectively engage, spring means acting upon said shoes to normally hold the same in a retracted position, and actuating means for sliding said yoke member in a direction at a right angle to the direction of sliding movement of said brake shoes to cause said wedges to slide said shoes to an extended position into braking engagement with said brake drum against the tension of said spring means.

2. In a brake, a drum, an anchor plate, a pair of horizontally opposed brake shoes slidably supported upon said anchor plate within said drum and having inwardly extending c-shaped webs,

adjacent ends of said c-shaped webs being disposed in spaced relation and provided with downwardly and inwardly inclined wedge surfaces to define V-shaped notches therebetween, a yoke member slidably mounted upon said anchor plate for movement in a direction at a right angle to the sliding movement of said brake shoes, V- shaped wedges fixedly carried by said yoke member and respectively disposed in said V-shaped notches, spring means acting to move said shoes to a retracted position with the inclined surfaces thereof in contact with said V-shaped wedges, and means for sliding said yoke member to cause the wedges thereof to wedge said shoes into braking engagement with said drum against the action of said spring means.

' PETER RUF'EINO. 

